BECUMA IS THE IRISH GODDESS OF THE "MAGIC BOAT", OF HEAVEN AND HELL; SHE IS THE GODDESS OF BANISHMENT. BACUMA'S TALE IS ONE OF MANY TRIALS AND HER SURVIVAL. BACUMA ORIGINALLY CAME FROM THE LAND OF THE FAERY. IT SEEMS THAT SHE WAS MARRIED TO A CELEBRATED TUATHA, BUT COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH GAIAR, A SON OF MANANN MAC LIR. SHE HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HIM AND CHOSE TO LEAVE HER HUSBAND; BUT, IN THE FAERY WORLD, THIS SORT OF 'WANTON' BEHAVIOR WAS UNACCEPTABLE. SHE BECAME AN OUTCAST AMONG HER PEOPLE. AND EVENTUALLY, BACUMA WAS STRIPPED OF MOST OF HER POWERS AND BANISHED TO LIVE WITHIN THE LAND OF THE MORTALS.

BACUMA WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL MAIDEN, AND IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE SHE CAUGHT THE EYE OF THE HIGH KING OF TARA, "CONN OF THE HUNDRED BATTLES". SOON, THE PAIR WAS WED, BUT, THINGS DID NOT GO SMOOTHLY. SHE REALLY WANTED TO BE WITH HIS SON, ART, BUT CONN WAS THE KING SO SHE CHOSE HIM. SOON THEREAFTER, THE LAND OF IRELAND BECOMES DESOLATE, DEVOID OF FOOD AND MILK...AND ALL BECAUSE CONN HAS CHOSEN TO MARRY AN UNWORTHY WOMAN. NOW, CONN LOVE BECUMA AND RATHER THAN GIVE HER UP, HE CHOOSES TO EXILE ART INSTEAD. HOWEVER, WHEN CONN CONSULTS HIS DRUIDS, THEY TELL HIM WHAT IS REALLY AT THE BOTTOM OF HIS PROBLEM, AND BECUMA, THE 'SINFUL WOMAN' IS ONCE AGAIN DRIVEN FROM HER HOME. SHE NOW RESIDES IN THE OTHERWORLD.

A-HA MANA is the Hopi Kachina of the Powamu or bean dance. She is one of the many Kachina Manas, or female spirits, who participate in the ritual ceremonies of the Hopi. A-ha Mana accompanies A-ha, a male Kachina, to the bean dance at the Second Mesa.

ACCORDING TO THE BARANSAMA PEOPLES, ROMI KUMU THE CREATOR OF THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING IN IT. SHE IS THE RULER OF THE TREES, OF THE NIGHT, OF EARTH, OF AIR, AND THE MOTHER OF ALL PEOPLE. SHE WAS A FEMALE SHAMAN WHO MADE A GREAT GRILL OUT OF CLAY AND PLACED IT IN THE MOUNTAINS; IT BECAME THE SKY. THEN, SHE OPENED THE WATER DOOR TO THE SKY AND LET WATER COME GUSHING ONTO THE EARTH...AFTER WHICH, SHE CREATED ALL OF THE CREATURES.

NOW, AS THE TALE GOES, ROMI KUMU HAD IN HER POSITION A SPECIAL GOURD THAT THE BARANSAMA PEOPLE COVETED. THEY CHASED AFTER HER AND FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO HER IN THE EAST. SHE TRIED FENDING THEM OFF BY GIVING THEM A GOURD, BUT IT WASN'T THE ONE THAT THEY WANTED, AND THE PEOPLE BECAME VERY ANGRY WITH HER. THEY WERE SO ANGRY THAT THEY WANTED TO KILL HER, BUT BEFORE THEY GOT THE CHANCE, SHE HAD CLIMBED UP INTO THE SKY AND BECAME THE PLEIADES.

"TODAY, ROMI KUMU IS REPRESENTED IN RITUAL AS A SPECIAL GOURD WHICH DEPICTS THE SKY; IT IS FILLED WITH BEESWAX. THE GOURD IS CONSIDERED A 'WOMB' AND THE SCENT OF THE BURNING WAX DENOTES FEMALE SEXUALITY. "